Sustainability Strategy: Greater Dandenong
Sustainability Strategy: Greater Dandenong
Sustainability Strategy: Greater Dandenong
Sustainability Strategy
Towards an environmentally sustainable city
2016–2030
Contents
Foreword (Mayor) / Message (CEO) ........ 02
Executive Summary ................................... 03
Introduction ................................................ 06
Implementation .......................................... 11
Sustainability Facts.................................... 15
Sustainability Themes................................ 20
Biodiversity and Open Space.................. 22
Water and Stormwater............................ 24
Waste and Resources............................. 26
Transport and Movement........................ 28
Climate and Energy................................. 30
Buildings and Places............................... 32
Environmental Pollution........................... 34
Local and Sustainable Food.................... 36
Local Community and Culture................. 38
Local Business and Economy................. 40
Definitions .................................................. 42
References ................................................ 43
Mayor,
Cr Heang (Meng) Tak CEO
John Bennie
ENGAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
• Information packs located at Council’s • Community engaged through use of
CGD Customer Service Centres Council’s CGD Website
• Responses collected through the use • Community engaged through use of
of SurveyMonkey OurSay, Facebook and Twitter
• Promotion to the business community • Mail-out and emails to the community
through Council’s South East Business via Council’s environmental
Network events and sustainability education /
• Advertising through Local Papers events database
• Promotion through Council E-newsletters • ‘Drop in Sessions’ and static The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive, with praise for
• Promotion to and meeting with specific displays at both the Dandenong and Council’s approach in seeking the community’s views on sustainability issues.
community groups Springvale Libraries The consultation showed that many members of the community are concerned about a
• Promotion through Sustainable • Promotion at Council Events, such variety of sustainability issues - including:
Living Festival as World Wetlands Day and the
Sustainability Festival. • Protect and improve the natural environment
• Minimise impacts from ongoing development
RESPONSES • Local Food and FairTrade issues
Formal submissions received*: Facebook Response: • Climate Change and Transport
• 186 submissions – individuals and / • A reach of 49,324 views • Leadership and need for action
or community groups. • Liked by 471 people • Increased community awareness and engagement.
*Emails, interviews, SurveyMonkey, hard • 110 comments
Feedback from the consultation process has been incorporated into the development
copies and OurSay.
of this Strategy through its themes, goals objectives and targets.
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
1 World Commission on Environment and Development’s Our Common Future Report, 1987
LOCAL COMMUNITY
LOCAL
ECONOMY
IMAGINE 2030
COUNCIL PLAN
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
THEMES
BIODIVERSITY & WATER & WASTE & TRANSPORT & CLIMATE BUILDINGS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY BUSINESS
OPEN SPACE STORMWATER RESOURCES MOVEMENT & ENERGY & PLACES POLLUTION FOOD & CULTURE & ECONOMY
GOAL & GOAL & GOAL & GOAL & GOAL & GOAL & GOAL & GOAL & GOAL & GOAL &
OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES
STRATEGIES STRATEGIES STRATEGIES STRATEGIES STRATEGIES STRATEGIES STRATEGIES STRATEGIES STRATEGIES STRATEGIES
STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS
OTHER OTHER OTHER OTHER OTHER OTHER OTHER OTHER OTHER OTHER
Key strategic documents include: • Annual Sustainability Report (formerly • Green Wedge Management Plan (2014) • 2014 Housing Strategy
• Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme State of the Environment Report) • 2009 Open Space Strategy • 2015 Community Development
• 2015 – 2020 Long-Term • 2013 – 2017 Community Wellbeing Plan • 2015 – 2020 Waste and Litter Strategy Framework
Financial Strategy • 2015 – 2022 Community Safety Plan • 2008 Sustainable Water Use Plan • 2015 Arts and Cultural Heritage
• 2015 – 2022 Asset • 2015 – 2019 Children’s Plan Strategy and Action Plan
• 2016 Sustainable Stormwater Strategy
Management Strategy • 2011 Economic Development Strategy • 2015 Community Hubs Framework
• 2005 Integrated Transport Plan
• 2014 Risk Assessment Strategy / • 2015 – 2018 Regional Food Strategy • 2015 - Language and Communication
• 2015 – 2023 Walking Strategy
Framework Framework and Action Plan
Council has for many years been publicly releasing annual environment reports that
collate and analyse information to enable an assessment of environmental trends. This Governance
information is then used to inform policies and practices for improving the state of the The City of Greater Dandenong will put in place a rigorous governance and evaluation
environment. The progress towards the objectives and targets identified in this Strategy framework to track and assess progress against this Strategy.
will be the basis for future Annual Sustainability Reports prepared by Council. These For Council to achieve the goals and objectives outlined in this report, there will
reports also provide the opportunity to both acknowledge Council’s and the community’s need to be significant cross organisational support. To facilitate this, it is proposed
achievements, as well as highlight those areas we are doing well, and not so well. that Council establishes an internal Sustainability Strategy Working Group, with
Indicators reported in these annual reports need to be carefully selected to provide representatives from across the organisation, which will oversee the implementation
information relevant to Council’s stated goals and objectives. In most situations, no single of this Strategy.
indicator is likely to be adequate, so a range of indicators will need to be used. Indicators In response to the feedback received during the initial community consultation
will be updated on a regular basis in response to the availability of relevant data. undertaken to develop this Strategy, an external Community Sustainability Reference
Where there is no or limited data around a key priority, target or objective identified Group will be established in 2016 - 2017 to assist Council’s effort to deliver on this
within this Strategy, Council will determine how to collect relevant data to plug that gap. Strategy. This reference group will be established in accordance with Council’s
This will enable Council to estabish suitable baselines, and then monitor and report on Community Reference Groups Guidelines.
the performance against this baseline.
Review of this Strategy
Annual Action Plan This Strategy will be reviewed every 5 years to ensure it maintains its relevance and
The Annual Sustainability Report will each year include a summary of relevant actions continues to drive Greater Dandenong to become a sustainable city by 2030. The
from Council’s various business units that will assist with the achievement of this monitoring of the progress towards the Strategy’s goals and objectives through the
Strategy’s objectives. This will consist of: Annual Sustainability Report will enable the 2021 review to incorporate Targets for
2025 and 2030.
• those actions that Council plans to undertake in the next year or two
• Council’s progress against the actions identified in the previous years Sustainability Report. As not every objective in this Strategy has an established baseline, where appropriate,
some indicators and targets may be updated as further information becomes available
This approach ensures a rolling action plan that remains relevant by responding to and relevant policies are developed prior to the 2021 review.
influences such as:
RESOURCE USE
Our consumption of natural resources
can be measured using ecological
footprinting that assess the number
of global hectares of land required to
support our consumption and wastes.
This can be translated into the number
of planets required to support our
Australia Greater Dandenong
lifestyle, if everyone on earth lived the The average Australian has an ecological footprint of 6.87 gha Residents in the City of Greater Dandenong have an average
same lifestyle. (global hectares) per year – the equivalent of a 4 planet lifestyle*. ecological footprint of 6.02 gha equal to a 3.5 planet lifestyle*.
*
Source: ACF Consumption Atlas
Victoria
Victorians generated 11.1 million tonnes of waste in 2013-14 and this is estimated World 400ppm
to increase to around 21 million tonnes per year by 2044@. Monitoring shows that Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
levels reached 400ppm in the Earth’s atmosphere
Every three months, the Victorian economy produces enough waste to fill in 2014*. Human activity is considered to be the
the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) completely – from the playing field main cause of this rise.
to the top of the stands^.
275ppm (approx)
1958 2014
@
Source: Victoria’s Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure *Source: The Keeling Curve, Scripps Institution of
Investment Prospectus, Victorian State Government, 2015. Oceanography, The University of California, San Diego.
^
Source: Environment Victoria website - http://
environmentvictoria.org.au/content/why-waste-matters The 5th Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, states that humanity must act now to limit the impact of climate
Greater Dandenong change and reduce our CO2 emissions. PwC’s 2012 Low Carbon Economy
Residents of Greater Dandenong have worked with Council to reduce household Index Annual Report, which focuses on economic performance, confirmed
garbage being sent to landfill, with diversion rates increasing from 22% in 1999- that if we are to avoid the impact and cost of a 20C increase in global
2000 to around 45% in 2013-2014. Even though Greater Dandenong’s population temperatures, we must reduce our emissions by 5% per year for the next
has grown over this period, the amount of household garbage sent to landfill is still 38 years . If we do not act we face a future of climate instability, increased
lower in 2013-2014 than it was in 1999-2000. temperature, reduced average rainfall and extreme weather events.
Tonnes
70,000
5 %
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
emissions
10,000
0
99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 Required reduction
Year
per year for the next
38 years
Green Waste (Less contamination) Recycling (Less contamination) Waste to landfill
Greenhouse gas
JAPAN CANADA
2.9% 1.6%
emissions for the 10.5% RUSSIAN
REPUBLIC
29.4% FEDERATION
53
OF KOREA
TRANSPORT 5.1%
%
SOUTH
GOODS & average Australian AFRICA
1.5%
SERVICES 1.0%
INCREASE 28.3%
FOOD
Even though Australia’s contribution to
global emissions is only about 1.3%, it
is in the top 20 countries^.
*
Source: Clean Energy Regulator small- ^
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and
scale renewable energy installation data. Trade, Australian Government 2016.
50
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When compared with the rest of the world, there are only a handful of countries that have higher greenhouse gas emissions per person+. +
Source: United Nations
46%
Bayside
Boroondara
Brimbank
Cardinia
Casey
Darebin
Frankston
Glen Eira
Greater Dandenong
Hobsons Bay
Hume
Kingston
Knox
Manningham
Maribyrnong
Maroondah
Melbourne
Melton
Monash
Monnee Valley
Moreland
Nillumbik
Port Phillip
Stonnington
Whitehorse
Whittlesea
Wyndham
Yarra
Banyule
of Victoria’s native
vegetation left.
54%
of Victoria’s native
■ ha/1000 people
+
Source: VEAC’s Metropolitan
Melbourne Investigation 2011
FINAL REPORT
vegetation is gone
due to clearing. Canopy Cover
An assessment of the canopy cover across Greater Melbourne indicates that
Greater Dandenong has the lowest canopy cover this side of the city*.
To help address this, the community has helped Council at tree planting days
Value of Ecological services to plant over 18,000 native local plants in public open spaces each year.
Biodiversity underpins the health of the planet and has a direct impact on our
lives. We are currently using 25% more natural resources than the planet can *Source: INSTITUTE FOR
sustain. In Greater Dandenong, even with the green wedge area to the south, SUSTAINABLE FUTURES
very little of the original native vegetation remains. According toa 2014 update^ Benchmarking Australia’s
Urban Tree Canopy: An i-Tree
to a report commissioned by the US Government, the monetary value of goods
Assessment, Final Report 2014
and services provided by nature was estimated to be about $125 trillion per year
($US) – that’s $125,000,000,000,000.00 provided by plants and wildlife. These
services are critical to human well-being and to the functioning of the economy.
Canopy Cover
For instance, the value of insect pollinators alone on world agricultural production
0% - 9.9%
is estimated to be over $200 billion.
10% - 19.9%
$125,000,000,000,000.00
20% - 29.9%
30%- 39.9%
40% - 49.9%
Over 50%
^
Source: Changes in the global value of ecosystem services Robert
Costanza, et.al. Global Environmental Change 26 (2014) 152–158
Imagine a city where water is managed efficiently and effectively to: provide a secure source of clean drinking water; reduce
Water and Stormwater flood risk and damage; ensure healthy waterways; as well as support healthy local parks and environments.
Imagine a Waste Wise City with clean public places where resources are used efficiently, resulting in lower costs, less waste
Waste and Resources and a healthy local environment.
Imagine a Well Connected City that is easy, safe and affordable to walk and cycle around, is well connected to public
Transport and Movement transport and has a clear hierarchy for the effective movement of vehicles.
Imagine a Low Carbon City that is run from renewable energy, has a minimal carbon footprint, causes minimal damage to the
Climate and Energy planet and is affordable, attractive, liveable and sustainable.
Imagine a City that’s been planned, designed and built to accommodate the community’s future needs, a city that’s
Buildings and Places been created to reflect a sense of place that’s unique to the community, a city that performs environmentally, socially and
economically.
Imagine a Clean and Healthy City with clean air, water and land, which support a healthy local environment and protects the
Environmental Pollution community from pollution-related health problems.
To create a city connected by food where people have healthy balanced diets, have the ability to grow their own fruit and
Local and Sustainable Food vegetables, and have access to local and seasonal fresh food which is locally grown and processed.
Imagine a Liveable City with a healthy and thriving community, where its members enjoy optimal health in an environment
Local Community and Culture that actively promotes productive, rewarding and socially inclusive lives.
Imagine a city where people of all ages and backgrounds can reach their potential, gain the skills and education they need
Local Business and Economy for success, and be part of a prosperous economy where all trade, manufacturing and business actively flourish.
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• 2014 Green Wedge Management Plan • Review, update and implement the Open Space Strategy for Council and the City of Greater Dandenong
• 2009 Open Space Strategy • Incorporate best practice open space and biodiversity management as part of all relevant Council Strategies
and Action Plans
• 2003 Leafy Legacy (Street Tree Strategy) • Incorporate best practice open space and biodiversity requirements into the Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme
• Reserve Management Plans (Internal) • Continue to develop and implement Biodiversity Management Plans for areas of Council land identified as
having significant ecological value
• Park Masterplans
• Review, update and implement Leafy Legacy Strategy
• Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme • Engage and strengthen the community’s awareness on the ecological value of the parks, plants and wildlife in
Greater Dandenong.
*Establish Baseline - Where there is no baseline or limited data a baseline will be established.
STORMWATER
to: provide a secure source of clean the community’s water use, it has undertaken a range of
measures to raise awareness within the community and
drinking water; reduced flood risk advocate on its behalf – examples include:
and damage; healthy waterways; as • Raising awareness via Council’s website, publications,
OUR GOAL: well as support healthy local parks events and planning, as well as demonstrating
A WATER SENSITIVE CITY and environments. leadership through Council’s projects
• Actively lobbying for access across the municipality
The standard industry approach to water management to recycled water from the Eastern Treatment Plant –
has been to manage water supply, sewerage and 1,345 properties connected at start of 201534.
stormwater separately. Recent droughts and floods have
led to a rethink of these water management practices Within Greater Dandenong the water quality of the
by governments, water authorities and industry, which local waterways is generally poor35, with the focus
are now working together to achieve a more integrated being on reducing the impact of stormwater flooding.
approach to the management of water resources. Working in partnership with Melbourne Water and other
stakeholders, Council is taking an integrated approach to
The main watercourse that flows through the improve water quality – examples include:
municipality of Greater Dandenong is the Dandenong
Creek and its tributaries, the Mile Yarraman and • Increasing uptake of Water Sensitive Urban Design
Eumemmerring Creeks. Much of the middle and lower (WSUD) principles in new developments across the city
reaches of the Dandenong Creek is characterised by • Modelling impacts of flooding and climate change in
significant urban development. an urban environment as part of the Financial Risks
Adaptation Planning project with SECCCA1
What is Council currently doing? • Monitoring and minimising impacts of pollution in the
Dandenong South Industrial Precinct with partners
Council used 219ML of mains potable water in 2013–
such as the EPA2 Victoria and Melbourne Water.
2014, an increase from the 194ML used in 2012-2013,
but still considerably lower than the 394ML recorded in A key project that captures the integrated water
1999–2000. This has been achieved through a range of management approach adopted by Council is the
actions undertaken by Council to reduce its main water stormwater harvesting project at Tatterson Park. When
use – examples include: completed it has the potential to provide up to 20ML
per year of water for irrigation, reduce stormwater runoff
• The conversion of all of the sporting fields managed impacts and improve water quality.
by Council to grasses that use up to 70% less water
than traditional grass species Council has established integrated water and stormwater
objectives and targets that will help protect and enhance
• The ongoing installation of rainwater tanks at Council’s
our waterways, help reduce impacts of stormwater, both
facilities, including a 700,000 litre rainwater tank at the
pollution and runoff, and help reduce unnecessary mains
Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC).
water consumption.
Average water use for residential properties across
South East Water’s region was 408 litres per day during 1 SECCCA – South East Councils Climate Change Alliance
2013-201432. Across the City of Greater Dandenong, 2 EPA - Environment Protection Authority
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• 2016 Sustainable Stormwater Strategy • Implement recommendations from the Integrated Water Management Background Report, where appropriate
• 2015 – 2022 Asset Management Strategy • Incorporate best practice for water resource management into Council’s Asset Management Strategies and
• 2014 Green Wedge Management Plan Action Plans
• 2012 Flood Emergency Management Plan (Internal) • Incorporate best practice for water resource management into Council’s Strategies and Action Plans,
• 2008 Sustainable Water Use Plan where appropriate
• 2014 Integrated Water Management Background • Incorporate best practice for water resource management into the Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme
Report (Internal) • Engage and strengthen the community’s awareness on best practice for mains water efficiency and
stormwater management.
*Establish Baseline -Where there is no baseline or limited data a baseline will be established.
**WS-1.1 - Baseline established prior to drought conditions and is based on ICLEI water campaign framework
RESOURCES
resulting in lower costs, less waste bin colours for state-wide education programs
and healthy local environments. • in 2014, achieving approximately 30 per cent of
relevant planning applications for new developments
Australians’ are reported to be one of the highest
to demonstrate best practice waste and
generators of waste in the world per capita36, with the
OUR GOAL: average Victorian generating over two tonnes per year37.
resource management.
A WASTE WISE CITY The amount of waste we generate continues to grow, Council regularly works with Victorian Government
with our relatively affluent lifestyles and a population departments and waste authorities to facilitate
growth both significant factors. The generation and an integrated approach to waste management –
management of this waste has substantial environmental examples include:
and social impacts.
• advocacy for improved product stewardship programs
and the increased uptake of new technology through
What is Council currently doing? state-wide and regional waste strategic plans
In 2014, an audit of the Civic Centre Offices and • participating in the initial project advisory panel to
Operations Centre showed that 28.4 tonnes of total waste develop Get it Right on Bin Night - a state-wide
was generated by Council Staff, of which 54% was sent program to increase household recycling rates.
to landfill and 46% was recycled or composted. In 2015,
Council reduced total waste generated to 12.8 tonnes, of A key focus area of Council’s is to reduce littering
which 37% went to landfill. Council has achieved these and roadside dumping, resulting in the development
substantial reductions through a range of actions aimed of a variety of programs such as Dob-In-A-Dumper
at reducing waste to landfill, increasing recycling rates and and the Roadside Litter Education Program, with the
improving resource efficiency – examples include: latter judged winner in the Litter Prevention Category
at the 2015 Keep Australia Beautiful Awards. Council
• achieving Silver Accreditation as part of Sustainability officers investigated 3,259 reports of littering and
Victoria’s Waste Wise Council program dumped rubbish and issued 317 fines in 2014. Council
• recycling of operational waste handled through also facilitates Clean-Up-Australia events in Greater
Council’s Operation Centre, including green waste, Dandenong. Council has established waste and resource
steel and batteries. use objectives and targets that will reduce the use of
Council’s household kerbside waste collection service natural resources, reduce waste to landfill, increase reuse
resulted in on average 11.7kg of waste per household and recycling of materials and reduce litter.
being sent to landfill each week during 2013-2014. While
Council’s ability to directly influence the community’s
generation of waste is limited, Council has undertaken a
range of measures to raise community awareness of the
need to reduce waste to landfill and increase recycling
rates – examples include:
• working with schools, kindergartens and migrant
communities and facilitating events such as the
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• 2015 – 2020 Waste and Litter Strategy • Implement the Waste and Litter Strategy for Council and the Municipality
• Annual Litter Action Plan (Internal) • Incorporate best practice waste and resource management as part of all relevant Council Strategies and Action Plans
• Annual Waste Education Plan (Internal) • Review and update existing procurement policy to increase sustainability outcomes
• Current Procurement Policy • Apply best practice waste and resources model to the management and operation of all Council buildings,
• Existing Local Laws facilities and events
• Continue to provide best practice waste services to the community
• Continue to support the activities of the Litter Action Task Force.
AND MOVEMENT
and cycle around, is well connected as part of the Green Star rating requirements for the
to public transport and has a clear 5 star Green Star rated Civic Building.
hierarchy for the effective movement • the ongoing selection of low emission vehicles,
OUR GOAL: of vehicles. including the trialling of electric vehicles.
Census data reports that Greater Dandenong residents’
A WELL CONNECTED CITY Transport is central to our modern way of life. It connects
use of cars for journeys to work, either as driver or
us with our families, friends and community as well as
to resources, employment and services. An effective passenger, fell from 87.2 per cent in 2006 to 84.7 per
transport system is critical to the liveability of any city. In cent in 2011. Journeys to work increased from 1.9 per
addition, active transportation modes, such as walking cent for walking and 0.5 per cent for cycling in the 2006
and cycling, improve social and health outcomes. census to 2.1 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively in
the 2011 census. While Council has a limited ability to
Travel options within Greater Dandenong are, like the directly influence the community’s method of transport,
majority of Melbourne, reliant on the use of the private it has undertaken a range of measures to facilitate
motor vehicle. Across Metropolitan Melbourne, freight improved transport options and raise community
and passenger transport compete for limited road awareness – examples include:
space, resulting in congestion and increased travel
times. In 2015, a comprehensive audit by Infrastructure • increasing the shared path network across the
Australia on Melbourne’s road network identified that municipality from 136km in 2010 to 181km in 2015
unless congestion is addressed delays will cost over • supporting the Springvale Rail Grade Separation
$9 billion a year by 203138. The report recommends project – with a predicted cost benefit ratio for the
public transport be expanded to help reduce road community that returns $1.86 for every $1 invested
congestion, and that investment must be linked to
higher density development around key activity centre. • implementing Council’s award winning Wayfinding
Signage Strategy for the Springvale Activity Centre
Local government is increasingly recognised as having
a role to play, at both a local and regional level, by • advocating for improved transportation solutions
advocating, planning, facilitating and in some cases even for the region, through forums such as the Eastern
providing transport solutions. Transport Coalition.
Council has established integrated transport and
What is Council currently doing? movement objectives and targets that will help facilitate
easy, safe and affordable transport options for the
Greater Dandenong is recognised as a regional transport
community, improved health and social outcomes as
hub and Council has long accepted that it has a key
well as reduced emissions.
role to play in the provision of integrated transport
solutions. Across its operations, Council’s fleet vehicles
were responsible for 1,444 tonnes of carbon dioxide
equivalent gases (t-CO2e) in 2014, a decrease from
2007’s 1,448 t-CO2e, despite the increase in the number
of fleet vehicles. This has been achieved through a range
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• 2005 Integrated Transport Strategy • Review and implementation of the 2005 Integrated Transport Strategy
• 2015 – 2023 Walking Strategy • Develop and implement Council’s Cycling Strategy
• Staff Green Travel Scheme (Internal) • Develop and implement Council’s Neighbourhood Centres Strategy
• Annual Shared Paths Network Plan • Incorporate best practice for transport management into Council’s Asset Management Strategies and Action Plans
• Incorporate best practice integrated transport management into Council’s Strategies and Action Plans
(where appropriate)
• Implement and promote the Green Travel Plan for Council staff
• Incorporate best practice integrated transport management into the Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme.
*Establish Baseline -Where there is no baseline or limited data a baseline will be established.
ENERGY
While information on the community’s energy use is limited,
damage to the planet and is affordable, Victorian Government data43 indicates the average Greater
Dandenong household consumed 14.2kWh of electricity
attractive, liveable and sustainable. and 140MJ of gas per day in 2007. Available information
It’s clear that the Earth’s climate is changing. In Australia, on the uptake of solar panels across Greater Dandenong
OUR GOAL: average air temperatures have increased by around 0.9 shows that by July 2015, the rated output of registered
A LOW CARBON CITY degrees Celsius since 1910, and each decade has been solar panels was 18,361kW, a 53 per cent increase on the
warmer than the previous decade since the 1950s39. 11,979 kW registered at the end of 201344.While Council
Human induced greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions are has a limited ability to directly influence the community’s
considered to be the dominant cause of the observed energy use, it has undertaken a range of measures to raise
global warming since the mid-20th century. awareness within the community and advocate on its behalf
Economists, such as Stern40 and Garnaut41, highlighted that – examples include:
without action the impacts of climate change are estimated • raising awareness via Council’s website, publications
to annually cost at least 5 per cent of global GDP. This and events, as well as demonstrating leadership
includes costs associated with the projected significant through Council infrastructure projects
increase in the frequency and impact of extreme weather • working towards 30 per cent of relevant planning
conditions and events, such as heat waves, droughts and applications for new developments to demonstrate
floods42. Climate Change will impact many of the basic best practice energy efficiency measures
elements of life, such as access to water, food production, • collaborating with Council and other stakeholders
health and well-being, use of land and biodiversity levels. In to improve the environmental performance of new
addition, these impacts will not be evenly distributed, with buildings that require planning permits.
the poorest countries and people suffering the most.
As global mitigation action is occurring too slowly, there
Reducing the risks associated with climate change is an increasing need for adaptation to the impacts
requires society to not only reduce existing GHG that we will face. Working with a range of stakeholders,
emissions, but prepare and adapt to its future impacts. Council is taking action to increase the community’s
resilience to a changing climate – examples include:
What is Council currently doing? • modelling impacts of flooding and climate change in
The City of Greater Dandenong has long recognised an urban environment as part of the Financial Risks
the need to contribute to global efforts to reduce GHG Adaptation Planning project with SECCCA
emissions. Emissions from Council’s street lighting, • implementation of Council’s Heatwave Plan to help
buildings and facilities totalled 14,579 tonnes of Carbon minimise the impacts on our community, particularly
Dioxide equivalent gases (t CO2e) in 2014, a 3 per cent fall the aged and frail, from heatwave events.
from the 14,880 t CO2e for 2007. This has been achieved
through a range of actions undertaken by Council to Council has established climate change and energy
reduce its CO2e emissions – examples include: related objectives and targets that will help reduce Council
and the community’s greenhouse gas emissions as well as
• development of sustainable buildings, such as the reduce energy bills, improve the sustainability of buildings,
new Greater Dandenong Civic Centre, an accredited 5 increase the uptake of renewable energy and increase
star Green Star rated building resilience to the impacts from a changing climate.
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• 2016 Sustainable Stormwater Strategy • Develop and implement a Climate Change Strategy that adopts a Risk Management approach for Council
• 2012 Municipal Emergency Response Plan and the Municipality
• Heatwave Plan • Incorporate best practice for energy management into Council’s Asset Management Strategies and Action Plans
• 2015 – 2022 Asset Management Strategy • Incorporate best practice for energy management into Council’s Strategies and Action Plans, where appropriate
• Incorporate best practice requirements for energy efficiency and renewables into the Greater Dandenong
• 2014 Risk Management Strategy
Planning Scheme
• Showcase sustainable development options and set a benchmark for sustainability credentials
• Engage and strengthen the community’s awareness and ability to take action in regards to renewables,
energy efficiency, carbon emissions and climate change issues.
*Establish Baseline -Where there is no baseline or limited data a baseline will be established. ^Renewable Energy Target to be developed following establishment of baseline.
#
Greater Dandenong target will be reviewed as part of Climate Change Strategy development to align with Federal and Victorian Government targets.
BUILDINGS
new Greater Dandenong Civic Centre, an accredited
designed and built to accommodate the 5 star Green Star rated building
community’s future needs, a city that’s • Retrofitting of buildings to reduce energy and water
AND PLACES
use, through measures such as the installation of
been created to reflect a sense of place rainwater tanks and efficient lighting technology.
that’s unique to the community, a Actions such as these have also reduced the impact of
city that performs environmentally, the ongoing rise in utility charges:
OUR GOAL: socially and economically. • Even though Council’s water use remained stable at
37ML, charges more than doubled: $66,425 in 2006 –
A CITY PLANNED Whether it’s where we live or work, most of our lives 2007 compared with $153,969 in 2013-2014
FOR THE FUTRE are spent in and around buildings. The quality of our • Even with a 10 per cent reduction in emissions from
homes, buildings, towns and cities impacts our health, energy use bills across Council’s buildings, charges
wellbeing, environment and economy. Well designed increased from $625,640 in 2007 to $849,550 for 2014.
buildings and people friendly places, are attractive and Available data indicates that Greater Dandenong’s
useable, and promote more active lifestyles, which can community water and energy use is reducing over time.
help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases Average water use per household per day of 437L in
such as obesity and diabetes45. 2007-2008 fell to 405L in 2013-1450. The average Greater
The construction and operation of our buildings has Dandenong household’s energy use of approximately
a significant impact on our natural resources46. They 55kWh in 2004 reduced to around 52kWh in 200751. While
consume 32% of the world’s resources, including Council has a limited ability to directly influence these issues
12% of the water we consume and the generation of it regularly advocates on behalf of residents and businesses,
around 40% of all CO2 emissions47. Buildings that are continues to engage the community to help raise awareness
sustainably designed, constructed and operated may and has undertaken a range of measures to that will help
achieve substantial financial savings and have significant reduce energy and water consumption – examples include:
social and environmental benefits, when compared to • improving the sustainability of new residential and non
conventional buildings48. Evidence also demonstrates that residential buildings through the SDAPP1 program and
occupant health and well-being is generally increased the planning application process
in green buildings. For businesses, improved indoor
• increasing community awareness through events and
environment quality can result in higher staff productivity
activities such as the annual Sustainability Festival
rates due to fewer sick days and positive morale49.
Awards.
What is Council currently doing? Council has established objectives and targets that
will help reduce energy and water consumption, help
Billing data on electricity and gas usage from the reduce carbon emissions, and make our households and
operation of Council’s buildings and facilities indicated businesses more sustainable. These measures will also
the emission of 5,784 t-CO2e in 2014 compared with help reduce ongoing operational costs and help increase
6,397 t-CO2e in 2007, and the consumption of 37ML the health and wellbeing of both residents and workers.
of mains water in 2013-2014 compared with 37ML
in 2006-2007. Council has used information from its
State of the Environment Report to initiate a range
of actions that reduce energy and water use from
existing building stock, while establishing policies and 1 SDAPP (Sustainable Design in the Planning Process) has been
guidelines to help meet best practice ESD standards – developed by an association of Victorian councils with a focus on
examples include: improving the sustainability of buildings.
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme (Ongoing) • Best practice urban design and development, and activation to create liveable neighbourhoods and workplaces.
• 2015 Buildings and Facilities Asset Management Plan • Provide ongoing leadership through sustainable buildings and places that demonstrate high sustainability standards
• 2014 Integrated Water Management Background • Update and implement Council’s Buildings and Facilities Asset Management Plan
Report (Internal) • Strengthen and incorporate an Environmentally Sustainable Design Policy in the Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme
• 2015 – 2023 Walking Strategy • Engage with local residents and businesses to increase their awareness of opportunities to reduce their
• 2015 Placemaking Framework energy and water bills.
• 2014 - 2024 Housing Strategy
POLLUTION
support a healthy local environment • the Tatterson Park stormwater harvesting project –
and protects the community from when completed, will help protect local waterways as
well as provide an alternate source of water
pollution-related health problems.
• the Procurement Policy includes criteria related to
OUR GOAL: There are numerous environmental pollutants that sustainability and the protection of the environment
have the potential to have a significant impact on our
A CLEAN AND HEALTHY CITY environment, on our community, and as a result on our
• the Litter Action Task Force proactively identifies
pollution sources and implements solutions to help
economy, locally in Greater Dandenong, nationally across
reduce and prevent impacts.
Australia and internationally throughout the globe.
The Victorian Government authorities, such as Melbourne
The impact on the Australian economy of air pollution
alone is estimated to be in the billions of dollars per Water and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA),
year52. Urban air pollution can have significant direct have key roles in monitoring, reporting and managing
adverse impacts on human health – including respiratory air, water and land pollution across the region and state.
diseases, asthma, heart disease, personal irritations and Council is working in partnership with agencies, such as
learning difficulties in children53, and affect many people Melbourne Water and the EPA, and applying an integrated
each year across Australia. A reduction in air pollution approach to identify and tackle sources of pollution within
would deliver long-term benefits from the population’s the municipality – examples include:
improved health and reduce the real and substantial • Connecting Planning and Land Use Controls with
health costs54.
Source Pollution Monitoring - a program that aims to
Society has benefited immensely from predictable monitor stormwater pollutants in industrial areas
and stable environmental conditions for nearly 10,000 • The placement and enforcement of planning permit
years. The planetary boundaries framework (developed conditions that help minimise air, water and land
by the Stockholm Resilience Centre55) identifies the pollution from new development projects.
environmental processes that help regulate the stability
of the planet. It identifies a set of boundaries that While Council has a limited ability to directly influence
establish a safe operating space for humanity. Since the pollution levels across the municipality, it has undertaken
industrial revolution we have seen a significant increase a range of measures to raise community and minimise
in emissions and pollutants that are starting to push local pollutants – examples include:
the limits of these planetary boundaries. Examples of
• Roadside Litter Prevention Program – Recognised as
pollutants include the rise in ozone depleting gases and
Category Winner at 2015 Keep Australia Beautiful Awards
other greenhouse gas emissions.
• Awareness Programs such as Dob in a Dumper and
Clean up Australia Day.
What is Council currently doing?
The City of Greater Dandenong has one of the largest Council has established environmental objectives and
business and employment centres in Victoria. As a major targets that will help reduce the level of pollutants
economic hub Greater Dandenong has a commitment generated within the municipality, protecting the local
to promoting economic growth and prosperity, but this environment and the health of the local community.
objective is pursued through responsible practices that
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• 2015 - 2020 Waste and Litter Strategy • Implement the Waste and Litter Strategy for Council and the Municipality
• Annual Litter Action Plan (Internal) • Incorporate best practice waste and resource management as part of all relevant Council Strategies
• Annual Waste Education Plan (Internal) and Action Plans.
• Current Procurement Policy • Apply best practice waste and resources model to the management and operation of all Council buildings
• Current Local Laws and facilities.
• Continue to provide best practice waste services to the community
• Continue to support the activities of the Litter Action Task Force.
• Continue to advocate for the earliest possible closure of the Lyndhurst landfill site.
*Establish Baseline -Where there is no baseline or limited data a baseline will be established.
**Monitor and Report - Council is reviewing its reporting program to determine how best to report on environmental pollution issues.
Towards an environmentally sustainable city 2016–2030 35
To create a city connected by food What is Council currently doing?
LOCAL AND where people have healthy balanced The City’s reputation as a destination for affordable fresh
and multi-cultural food continues to find an audience,
diets, have the ability to grow their own and is the platform for making Greater Dandenong ‘A City
A CITY CONNECTED BY FOOD week. The local food sector exports $686M per annum As identified in the 2014 Green Wedge Management
and employs over 6,900 people, many of whom are Plan (GWMP), agriculture represents an important land
residents of Greater Dandenong56. use in the Greater Dandenong Green Wedge, particularly
for agricultural purposes, such as horticulture and
As identified in the 2014 Green Wedge Management Plan
livestock production.
(GWMP), agriculture represents an important land use in the
Greater Dandenong Green Wedge, particularly for agricultural Recognising the benefits, the GWMP identifies a range of
purposes, such as horticulture and livestock production. actions that support the expansion and diversification of
agricultural activity in the area.
Recognising the benefits, the GWMP identifies a range of
actions that support the expansion and diversification of In addition over the last few years Council has
agricultural activity in the area. undertaken or supported a range of programs focussed
on encouraging Greater Dandenong residents to grow
However, the production and consumption of food
their own food. These include:
accounts for 28% of the average Australian’s total
greenhouse gas emissions and 48% of the average • the planting of a variety of fruit trees into nature strips
Australian’s total ecological footprint57. and an urban orchard in the public open spaces of the
Meridian Estate in Dandenong South.
Climate change and obesity are both consequences of
our current way of life. There is a clear link between these • edible garden projects by Council’s Park’s team
two conditions. As our reliance on the car as a mode of resulting in a variety of seasonal herbs and vegetables
transportation increases, we reduce our use of active being planted in public open spaces such as
transport modes, such as walking and cycling. This Dandenong Park
reliance on the car, not only results in an increase in CO2 • supporting the 25 community and school gardens
emissions, but leads to an expansion of our waistline due across the municipality.
to a reduction in energy expended – Professor Stephen Council has established objectives and targets that will
Boyden, Australian National University not only help promote the production, processing and
Over 60% of adults and 25% of children in Australia are consumption of local and sustainable food, but highlights
either overweight or obese. In Victoria, less than 10% of the the benefits of a healthy diet to the local community. This
population gets the recommended daily fruit and vegetable approach will help reduce the environmental impacts,
intake. Access to fresh, healthy, local and sustainable food showcase local businesses and increase the health
options is often limited in lower income neighbourhoods. As and wellbeing of residents, workers and visitors to
a result fast foods become common habit with the average Greater Dandenong.
adult eating out more than four times per week58.
36 Greater Dandenong Sustainability Strategy
CORPORATE OBJECTIVES METRIC BASELINE SOURCE BY 2020
LF-1.1 Procurement Existing Procurement
Not Applicable Update Policy
Develop and implement a sustainable food procurement policy for Council. Policy Unit
LF-1.2 Waste Tonnes of Establish Annual Waste Monitor and
Reduce amount of food waste and packaging sent to landfill. Food Waste Baseline* Audit Report**
LF-1.3 Awareness % of Staff
Establish Corporate 50% of Staff
Create an internal culture that promotes healthy diets and local / sustainable food options. Surveyed and
Baseline* Service Surveyed
No. of Programs
COMMUNITY OBJECTIVES METRIC BASELINE SOURCE BY 2020
LF-2.1 Production GIS - Food
Establish Aspire for a 25%
With the support of key stakeholders, support the community to increase their ability to % of Residents Nodes (Healthy
Baseline* increase
grow their own fresh fruit and vegetables. Food Connect)
LF-2.2 Access GIS - Food
% of residents Establish Aspire for a 25%
Work with stakeholders to increase the percentage of residents that have access to Nodes (Healthy
within 500m Baseline* increase
healthy food within the municipality. Food Connect)
LF-2.3 Affordability Family Annual
% of income spent Healthy Food Complete local
Work with stakeholders to increase the affordability of fresh food within the municipality. Average 30%
on food Access Report food mapping
(2013)
LF-2.4 Green Wedge 32 businesses +
Agricultural Activity Green Wedge Monitor and
Support the expansion and diversification of agricultural activity in the Green Wedge ~1,037 hectares
in GW Mgt. Plan Report**
(GW) area. (2011)
LF-2.5 Planning No. of 30% of
Planning 50% of
New developments within the City to incorporate best practice food production and Sustainability Applications
Application Data Applications
access requirements. Referrals (2014)
LF-2.6 Awareness No. of Programs / Healthy Together Monitor and
Establish Baseline
Promote healthy diets and local sustainable food options for the broader community. Participants Program Report**
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• 2015 – 2018 Regional Food Strategy • Implement key objectives and actions in the Regional Food Strategy
• Healthy Together Progam • Implement key objectives and actions in the Green Wedge Management Plan
• Healthy Food Connect Report (2014) • Incorporate Local and Sustainable Food principles into the existing Council Food Policy
• Healthy Food Access Report (2007) • Incorporate best practice sustainable food outcomes into relevant Council Strategies and Action Plans
• Investigate the options to incorporate measures to address local and sustainable food through the Greater
• 2014 Green Wedge Management Plan
Dandenong Planning Scheme
• Engage and strengthen the community’s awareness on benefits of healthy diets, their ability to grow their own
fresh fruit and vegetables, and help them reduce the amount of food waste.
*Establish Baseline -Where there is no baseline or limited data a baseline will be established.
**Monitor and Report - Council is reviewing its reporting program to determine how best to report on sustainability food issues.
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• 2013 - 2017 Community Wellbeing Plan • Work to integrate sustainability initiatives into the updated version of the Community Wellbeing Plan
• 2015 Community Development Framework • Engage and strengthen the community’s awareness on the benefits of key health and wellbeing initiatives
• 2015 Community Hubs Framework linked to the Sustainability Strategy
• Community Engagement Planning Framework (2013) • Engage and strengthen the community’s awareness on the benefits of sustainability through activities like the
• Asylum Seeker and Refugee Communities Action Plan Sustainability Festival and Awards
• Imagine 2030 Community Plan (2010) • Implement measures to improve the environmental sustainability of Council’s festivals and events
• Arts and Cultural Heritage Strategy (2016) • Identify further opportunities and forums to increase focus on sustainability across the region, such as through
collaboration with other councils, community organisations and schools
• Investigate options for establishing a Community Environment Centre located in the South East Region.
*Establish Baseline -Where there is no baseline or limited data a baseline will be established. **Monitor and Report - Council is reviewing its reporting program to determine how best to report on relevant community issues.
Towards an environmentally sustainable city 2016–2030 39
Imagine a city where people of all investment of $290 million and is forecast to attract close
to $1.2 billion of private investment in the area over the next
BUSINESS
in the Springvale and Noble Park Activity Centres.
they need for success, and be part of a
Extensive community engagement and consultation, as
resilient, sustainable and prosperous part of the Imagine 2030 Community Plan68, highlighted
economy where trade, manufacturing
AND ECONOMY
the importance that people placed on economic
and business flourish. prosperity and security. The 2013-2017 Council Plan
priorities and key area of focus – A City of Opportunity
The UK Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) - reflects Council’s commitment to enhancing economic
conducted an extensive international study into how prosperity through sustainable development.
OUR GOAL: local government deals with economic growth within
Council’s commitment to economic resilience and
their municipalities. It established that community
A CITY OF OPPORTUNITY wellbeing is closely linked to economic resilience
sustainable development is being implemented through
a range of strategies, programs and initiatives –
– where a healthy balance is created between the
examples include:
commercial, public and social economies with an
emphasis on environmental sustainability66. • Local Economic and Employment Development
There are a range of economic challenges for Council Strategy: Achieving Greater Dandenong’s Potential is
and the local community within Greater Dandenong. The Council’s local economic and employment development
municipality has the lowest gross average income within strategy. It articulates a vision for Greater Dandenong
Victoria - $395 per week. In addition Greater Dandenong as a place where people can reach their potential, gain
has one of the largest migrant populations in Australia skills and an education, and be part of a prosperous
with over 150 different nationalities, a large percentage economy where all trade, manufacturing and business
(60%) of whom were born overseas. Interestingly, while activity flourishes.
Greater Dandenong has the lowest gross average • Regional Food Strategy: Greater Dandenong has
income in Victoria, its Gross Regional Product (GRP) is created a strategy that is locally relevant, pragmatic,
valued at $75,000 per capita, which is 31% more than scalable and implementable. It outlines a series
Victoria’s Gross State Product of $57,000 per capita. of recommendations that will help create the right
conditions for economic growth and ensure the long-
A recent prospectus67 created by the Greater Dandenong term access to affordable healthy food produced
Business Team highlighted the importance of the role that within the Greater Dandenong food system.
the municipality plays as an economic hub for Melbourne
• Placemaking Framework: Greater Dandenong is
and Victoria. 30% of jobs within Greater Dandenong
committed to creating great places for its people. This
are in the manufacturing sector, with the broader region
has been demonstrated through the Placemaking
generating 42% of Victoria’s manufacturing output. There is
Program in central Dandenong led by Council in
a population catchment of over 1.3 million people that live
partnership with Places Victoria. The Placemaking
within a 20km radius of Central Dandenong, emphasising
Framework will assist Council apply this approach in
the economic importance of its location and reinforcing its
Noble Park and Springvale in the future.
position as the capital of the south east region.
To integrate sustainability within each of these initiatives,
What is Council currently doing? Council has established a range of objectives for the
Central to this status as capital of the south east region, Local Business and Economy Theme. These objectives
Revitalising Central Dandenong is an ambitious place will help attract investment in green enterprise, help
making program focused on a diverse range of highly visible support locally based sustainable businesses, and
public realm improvements within central Dandenong. help provide green employment and skill development
The initiative has benefits from the State Government’s opportunities for residents.
EXISTING KEY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PLANS FUTURE KEY STRATEGIC ACTIONS:
• 2011 Achieving Greater Dandenong’s Potential – • Implement the 2011 Achieving Greater Dandenong’s Potential – A Local Economic and Employment Development
A Local Economic and Employment Development Strategy for our City
Strategy for our City • Incorporate key Economic Development and Business priorities into the relevant Council’s Strategies and Action Plans
• 2015 – 2018 Regional Food Strategy • Incorporate key Economic Development and Business priorities into the Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme
• 2015 Activities Centres Placemaking Framework (where appropriate)
• Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme • Engage and strengthen the community’s awareness on benefits of key economic initiatives linked to the
• 2016 – 2020 Digital Strategy Sustainability Strategy
• Investigate opportunities to increase the sustainability of local businesses through programs that increase
energy efficiency and increase uptake of renewable energy sources, such as the use of Environmental
Upgrade Agreements.
*Establish Baseline -Where there is no baseline or limited data a baseline will be established.
**Monitor and Report - Council is reviewing its reporting program to determine how best to report on relevant economic issues.
Towards an environmentally sustainable city 2016–2030 41
Definitions
Biodiversity – the term given to the variety of life on Earth. It is the variety within and Resilience – the ability to readily recover from stresses or difficulties.
between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems within
Standard of living – A level of wealth and material comfort in daily life as measured by
which they live and interact.
the goods, services, and luxuries available to an individual, group, or nation. Standard
Establish Baseline – Where there is no baseline or limited data a baseline will be of living is closely related to quality of life.
established.
South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) – a collaboration of eight
Ecological Value – generally considered the level of benefits that the air, water, councils in Victoria’s south-east making a regional response to climate change. The
minerals, biota, and all other factors that make up natural ecosystems provide to eight Councils involved are: Bass Coast; Baw Baw; Bayside; Cardinia; Casey; Greater
support native life forms. Ecological values benefit all biodiversity, including humans. Dandenong; Kingston; and Mornington Peninsula.
Ecological Footprint – the measure of the impact a person or community has Sustainable – the ability to continue a defined behaviour indefinitely, by avoiding
on the environment, expressed as the total amount of land required to provide the harmful effects on the natural environment.
natural resources consumed, absorb the wastes emitted and provide space for the
Sustainable Design in the Planning Process (SDAPP) – a framework developed
infrastructure required.
by an association of Victorian councils with a focus on improving the sustainability of
Ecologically Sustainable Design (ESD) – The use of design principles and buildings. This is achieved by applying Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)
approaches that lessen the ecological impact of buildings, to save resources, reduce principles to the built environment through the statutory planning system.
waste and create a healthier environment for the occupants.
Walkability – a measure of how friendly an area is to walking for pedestrians. This is
Empower – To enable or give someone the power to do something that makes them based on key factors such as the quality of footpaths, traffic conditions, connectivity
stronger and more confident to control their life. of street networks, population density levels and the presence of jobs and shops.
Improved Walkability levels provide health, environmental, and economic benefits and
Empowerment – the sharing of information, resources, opportunity and motivation
therefore is an important concept in sustainable urban design.
with people so that they can show initiative and make decisions to solve problems and
improve performance. Walkscore – an online tool that provides a measure of the walkability of a property,
suburb or city. The methodology is based on the number of a typical consumer
Fair Trade – a social movement with the goal of achieving better prices, decent
destinations within walking distance of a dwelling, and other factors such as the
working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers
population density and road networks. Scores range from 0 (car dependant) to 100
in the developing world through their trade of goods to developed countries. It enables
(most walkable).
farmers and workers in the developing countries to improve their position and have
more control over their lives. Vision – the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom.
Monitor and Report – Council is reviewing its reporting program to determine how
best to report on relevant sustainability issues.
Natural resources – naturally occurring materials or substances which we can use
and modify in ways that are beneficial to us.
One Planet Councils – allows Australian local councils to assess their sustainability
policies and activities against a simple concept: do we consume more or less than our
share of one planet’s worth of resources?